In the "Ask Linda" columns I answer questions from readers who are uncertain how to proceed correctly under the Rules of Golf. No names are used – all questioners are referred to as Lulu (or Lou, in the case of male writers), in honor of the smart and sassy comic character.
Please send questions from your personal golf experiences to: llmillergolf@gmail.com.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Ask Linda #790-Move ball on green

Hi Linda,

This situation actually occurred last week. My opponent
missed his par putt and had a putt of less than a foot left. He was going to
putt out with the line of the putt between his legs and his back toward the
hole. I stopped him because he was putting astride. He stopped his motion but
while taking his normal stance he inadvertently moved the ball. Without
replacing the ball he putted out, saying he made a six.

There was huge discussion after the round. The player said
he made a six, I said he made an eight because of the two-stroke penalty for
not replacing the ball, and another player said he made a seven because the
movement of the ball and the non-replacement just constituted one violation
thus a one-stroke penalty. What is the correct score and what is the ruling?

The player also maintains that the putting astride rule only
applies when you are facing the hole.

Thanks!

Lou from Manila, Philippines

Dear Lou,

A player is not permitted to stand astride his line of putt
when he putts his ball [Rule 16-1e]. Regardless of which way he is facing,
standing astride means precisely that. The penalty is two strokes (loss of hole
in match play). [Please read Ask Linda #790a, posted on February 9, for an exception to this Rule.]

When the player moved the ball, he incurred a one-stroke
penalty. If he did not replace the ball before hitting it, the penalty
increased to two strokes [Rule 18-2a].

If it took the player six strokes to get the ball into the
hole, his score was eight.

It never ceases to amaze me how careless some players get on
the putting green. Putts that finish close to the hole do not need to be
studied for an appreciable amount of time, but standing in any other way than
your normal putting stance is just asking for trouble.